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I recently got into PFS and am struggling with making a character that I find interesting and still fits into the narrow window of PFS material (material that I also have to physically own). In the process I decided on some class combos that I'd like feedback on from other people more familiar with what PFS rulings are on the matter.
First, a Sage-bloodline sorcerer (X) with a single level of witch (1) at first level, just so I can get access to hexes as an extra hex feat if I choose. I really enjoy the ability to not worry so much about spells per day, and also I find the concept really interesting. I would like to use the Familiar Folio ability to replace my first level bloodline ability with gaining a familiar. Since I already have a familiar from being a witch, does that mean my sorcerer levels stack for my familiar (for the purposes of PFS play)?
A follow up to this is the specifics of RAW versus RAI on wording of hexes (and by extension, other things like oracle revelations or patron familiars). As a DM, I rule that - unless it is explicit that it is per (class) level - it means (character) level. For the purposes of PFS play, when a witch hex like Evil Eye says that it advances "at 8th level", does PFS require that be at witch level 8 or character level 8?
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The second question I have is in the same vein, and perhaps requires more adjudication: I'm also thinking about a treesinger druid (elf archetype) for the plant companion. Grab the sorcerer (verdant) bloodline for plant powers and RP that one of my character's parents was a dryad. Now, I'd like to play an oracle for 2nd+, and the oracle (nature) and (lunar) mysteries both have revelations that grant animal companions. The treesinger druid archetype states that the plant is an animal companion; do other classes that grant animal companions grant new companions, or is there one companion and those levels now just stack with the first one? Also, part of the problem is that the oracle revelations name specific types of creatures, none of which are plants. Again, I have my own opinions on what I'd do were I adjudicating this myself, but I want this to be PFS legal completely and I'd appreciate some help.
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Third question I have: I want to make a pirate. Specifically, a half-elf gunslinger, totally normal gunslinger stuff, with a dodo familiar from the online "pirate familiars" piece and using eldritch heritage to get the first level arcane bloodline power. What do I have to present as proof for using that as my source when I am in PFS?
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Greetings! Welcome to PFS. I'll try my best to answer your questions below, but I'll do them one by one:
I want to make a pirate. Specifically, a half-elf gunslinger, totally normal gunslinger stuff, with a dodo familiar from the online "pirate familiars" piece and using eldritch heritage to get the first level arcane bloodline power. What do I have to present as proof for using that as my source when I am in PFS?
You'd need each of the sources you're pulling stats from.
Eldritch Heritage (Ultimate Magic)
Dodo Familiar (Bestiary 4 or Pathfinder Adventure Path #55: The Wormwood Mutiny)
Gunslinger (Ultimate Combat)
Half-elf (Advanced Race Guide or Advanced Players Guide, if you want any Alternate Racial Traits)
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The treesinger druid archetype states that the plant is an animal companion; do other classes that grant animal companions grant new companions, or is there one companion and those levels now just stack with the first one?
Levels stack only if your Companion is on both lists. These are normal Pathfinder rules.
A Cavalier/Druid could have a fully leveled Companion if that Companion was a Horse (or Camel).
They would not have a fully leveled Companion if the Druid selected a Velociraptor, since Velociraptor is not on the Cavalier list.
You could have a Velociraptor and a Horse, but PFS has a restriction of one combat Companion, so you'd need to select which one you wanted to have a figurine on the battlemap for.
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RAW versus RAI on wording of hexes (and by extension, other things like oracle revelations or patron familiars). As a DM, I rule that - unless it is explicit that it is per (class) level - it means (character) level. For the purposes of PFS play, when a witch hex like Evil Eye says that it advances "at 8th level", does PFS require that be at witch level 8 or character level 8?
The rules you've suggested are houserules. Pathfinder assumes that class abilities use class level. A Sorcerer(x)/Witch-1 determines the effects of their hexes as though they were a 1st level Witch. PFS doesn't change that assumption at all.
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a Sage-bloodline sorcerer (X) with a single level of witch (1) at first level, just so I can get access to hexes as an extra hex feat if I choose. I really enjoy the ability to not worry so much about spells per day, and also I find the concept really interesting. I would like to use the Familiar Folio ability to replace my first level bloodline ability with gaining a familiar. Since I already have a familiar from being a witch, does that mean my sorcerer levels stack for my familiar (for the purposes of PFS play)?
PFS doesn't have any special restrictions on multiclassing. You'd just go by the usual Pathfinder rules. Luckily, if you have levels in a class that grants a Familiar, those levels stack with Witch, as per the class writeup on the Witch.
Wow, thanks for the extremely quick and thorough response Nefreet! I really appreciate getting clarification on every question. You're amazing!
Owner - D20 Hobbies
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1) my sorcerer levels stack for my familiar (for the purposes of PFS play)?
2) unless it is explicit that it is per (class) level - it means (character) level.
3) new companions, or is there one companion and those levels now just stack with the first one? ... none of which are plants
1) In PFS there is a limit:
on how many combat things you can have2) The rules are written with single class in mind, so they will frequenly say "per level" and mean "per class level". So when you translate that to "per character level" you are ignoring the actual rules each time. In PFS, you must not house rule. You need 8 levels of Witch for that ability. It isn't PFS, it is Pathfinder doing so.
3) They all have to support your choice to stack.
- Nefreet is more awesome to me!
Wow, thanks for the extremely quick and thorough response Nefreet! I really appreciate getting clarification on every question. You're amazing!
Yes, Nefreet is one of the best Pathfinder resources there is. (And, I see, a fellow Pastafarian.)
I don't think that Hexes work very well if they don't scale, so dipping one level of Witch isn't something I'd advise. If you want to try out hexes but don't care for the Witch spell list, you might want to look into either the Spirit Whisperer Wizard or Hexcrafter Magus. On the divine side of things, the Shaman is pretty awesome.
Awwwe! Thanks, everyone!
I appreciate the compliments, because they balance out all the times I'm wrong, Lol.
Today I just happened to be caffeinated and rested ^^.
Caffeinated and rested? At best I'm one or the other. :)
Aah, thanks those are both great suggestions for not-Witch and hexes. I mostly just struggle with things to do during combat when I also want to hold on to spells. At low levels I was figuring one or two hexes would be alright to just have something to do that can still contribute, but they do eat up resources.
PDFs are also a valid source of ownership
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Cavalier: Do animal companion levels from the druid class stack with cavalier mount levels?
If the animal is on the cavalier mount list and on the list of animal companions for your other class, your cavalier and druid levels stack to determine the animal's abilities. If the animal is not on the cavalier mount list, the druid levels do not stack and you must have different animals (one an animal companion, one a cavalier mount).
For example, if you are Medium druid and you choose a horse companion, levels in cavalier stack to determine the horse's abilities. If you are a Medium druid and you choose a bird companion, levels in cavalier do not stack to determine the bird's abilities, and you must choose a second creature to be your mount (or abandon the bird and select an animal companion you can use as a mount).
This same answer applies to multiclassed cavalier/rangers.
(Note that the design team discourages players from having more than one companion creature at a time, as those creatures tend to be much weaker than a single creature affected by these stacking rules, and add to the bookkeeping for playing that character.)
The treesinger druid archetype states that the plant is an animal companion; do other classes that grant animal companions grant new companions, or is there one companion and those levels now just stack with the first one?Levels stack only if your Companion is on both lists. These are normal Pathfinder rules.
A Cavalier/Druid could have a fully leveled Companion if that Companion was a Horse (or Camel).
They would not have a fully leveled Companion if the Druid selected a Velociraptor, since Velociraptor is not on the Cavalier list.
You could have a Velociraptor and a Horse, but PFS has a restriction of one combat Companion, so you'd need to select which one you wanted to have a figurine on the battlemap for.
Nefreet is right only for Cavalier/Druids and Cavalier/Rangers.
The druid's class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion's statistics.
That's what it says. Nowhere does it say anything about a limited list other than that FAQ and that's only within the confines of those two class combinations. Now it could be intended that your companion only advances if it's on both lists, but that's not what it says--but I doubt that it's intended because the ranger/druid combo existed even before the cavalier/druid combo did. And the ranger already had a limited list to choose from and that was never FAQ'd in the same way as the cavalier was.
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Nefreet is right only for Cavalier/Druids and Cavalier/Rangers.
The druid's class levels stack with levels of any other classes that are entitled to an animal companion for the purpose of determining the companion's statistics.That's what it says. Nowhere does it say anything about a limited list other than that FAQ and that's only within the confines of those two class combinations. Now it could be intended that your companion only advances if it's on both lists, but that's not what it says--but I doubt that it's intended because the ranger/druid combo existed even before the cavalier/druid combo did. And the ranger already had a limited list to choose from and that was never FAQ'd in the same way as the cavalier was.
The second option is to form a close bond with an animal companion. A ranger who selects an animal companion can choose from the following list: badger, bird, camel, cat (small), dire rat, dog, horse, pony, snake (viper or constrictor), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the ranger may choose a shark instead. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind. A ranger's animal companion shares his favored enemy and favored terrain bonuses.This ability functions like the druid animal companion ability (which is part of the Nature Bond class feature), except that the ranger's effective druid level is equal to his ranger level – 3.
A stack with B, C and D isn't the same thing of D stack with A in the game rules.
Let's say we have a Ranger 4 Druid 1As a Druid he take a Bear as an animal companion, the Ranger rules don't say his ability stack, so it don't stack.
But the rules don't care in what order you have taken the levels, they only care about stacking them.
So we start with the Ranger. He take one of his available animal bonds, a wolf. Now we consider the druid level. The rules say that the druid level stacks. So he can add his druid levels to the ranger animal companion.
Druid levels always stack, but they must be staked upon a valid choice. If you take a druid valid choice that isn't a valid choice for the other class the other class don't stack.
Aaaaah, okay, I see how that works then. Thanks claude and Diego, that really clears things up. I don't suppose there is anything at all in the game that lets you reconcile two separate companion lists?